Is this typical venue behavior??

Not abnormal, but you made the trip, so take a peek. If it is your dream venue, do they have other dates in the month you were looking at or one the next month?

You drove all that way, so have a little fun

When i first contacted my venue, the first line in the reply email was about holding dates. This venue was willing to hold my date while I reviewed their information. But if nothing is said about holding a date, I think you need to assume it's up for grabs and can be taken by another couple/event. As others have said, the only surefire way to hold a date with any vendor is a deposit. Although I've got an agreement on my date with the venue's wedding planner, I'm not booking my flight (it's a destination elopement) until that contract is signed and the deposit paid.

That really sucks, I totally understand. I'm planning a wedding about six hours from where we live. We ended up losing out in quite a few places because we just couldn't get out there quickly. Finally just put down a deposit and picked a different date.

I agree with others, it is definitely engagement season! When I got engaged last year, we had a few places in mind already and booked as soon as we could! We originally were going to go with a Sunday or Friday wedding, until a the Saturday we wanted became free because the person who was going to take it didn't pay yet. You either pay right away or lose it. Hopefully you can find a date that works for you!

This is why we tell people that they don't have a date until a deposit is made and a contract is signed.

Some bride on here was going to send out STDs before booking a venue. Hope that wasn't you...

@Gymrat, I believe said bride did send out STDs before booking the venue

@gymrat haha, no, absolutely didn't do that!

That stinks but it is how it works. October goes faster than any other month where I live. One of my friends even booked a venue without getting to see it first bc she lived in Arizona & was getting married in TN. She couldn't risk not getting a venue in Oct at all bc of having to wait until she could come visit.

You don't have a date until you have venue with a deposit put down and a contract signed. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. The manager probably assumed that you'd be open to that season and not a certain date.

My venue told us we had two weeks to book our date or they would release it. I think the ONLY reason they gave us two weeks is because the event coordinator (in charge of booking) was literally leaving on a week long vacation a few hours after our tour.

Typically your date is not held without a deposit and contract unless specifically stated otherwise.